GREAT New Tire Report

No need, already a know quantity. The Road 5 will absolutely embarrass any other tire that fits on the front of the Rocket in the rain, period point blank. The Road 5 also gets better in the rain as it wears, opposite all other tires on the market, because its currently the only tire made the way it is, where the water channels get larger as it wears.

Michelin claim a Road 5 worn half way down has more grip in the wet than the Road 4 has in the dry....

Well good, because as much as I appreciate the Scorcher II, I can't help but grumble a bit at all the HD branding on it. Looks like I'll have a different tire up front come next spring.

Thanks @1olbull for the review, and you know, using your body for science and all.
 
Lifetime expectancy?

Longer than Road 4s which are known to be very long lasting tires.

This is exactly why I find it inexcusable offense that Triumph put a 16" wheel on the Rocket. Literally ALL of the best tires are 17" tires, the newest designs, and the best tech all comes out at 17" first.

The Road 5 and Power RS are so far ahead of any other street tire its ridiculous. It's not until you get into advanced group on a track where any tire can compete, and even then, they're DOT legal race tires, the Dunlop Q4, Dunlop Q3+, and there some abomination 1000 mile lasting pirelli that's better at the extreme end of the bell curve.

The incredible part is how Michelin have been able to provide such amazing grip and yet still equal or better their competitors on mileage and price in most cases.

Note, Avon have released a new Cobra model which is supposed to better the AV71/AV72 for grip and durability.

//end rand
 
Here they can sort of creep up on you. We have these "cloverleaf" junctions. I have hit loads only to find them tighten up real fast even junctions between 2 motorways. So whist I don't intentionally hoon - sometimes.............................

Spanish civil engineers must suck worse than ours.
A descending roadway radius causes collisions and usually are the result of pisspoor planning.
We have some over here, but thankfully not to many.
I always maintain a small portion of my hooning brain just to remain vigilant to recognize them.
 
Well I have now put over 3,000 miles on my new Michelin Road 5 tire.
Tis a 150/70ZR17(69W) rear tire run backwards on the front of my 2012 R3R.

I have finally found a tire as good and likely better than the Avon Azaro.
I love the twisties and at 72 years, I have yet to outgrow the extreme fun of greasing them as best I can. Although not the wild man I once was, there is still nothing better than cutting a fine fast line through a series of twisties!

Although impossible, I'm always in search for anything that can make my R3R handle more like a sport bike. After 62,000 miles and at least 13 tires, this Pilot5 tire is by far THE best I've ever run on my front wheel.

Ninety miles of glorious twisties, called the Coronado Trail (Hwy 191) between Morenci and Alpine, AZ, were my test track.
I found the wider aspect ratio of the 150/70 kept the same wheel diameter and circumference as the 140/75. It provided much improved cornering control and copious quantities of traction. This tire provided me additional ability and confidence to create even more lean angle than ever before on this motor.
I run Standard boards on my R3R which are an inch and a half higher and provide quite a bit more lean angle than the OEM pegs did.
While touching down and dragging my boards was fairly common before, this tire allowed me to confidently increase my lean angle (more with both with butt over the inside of the seat or not) and drag nearly all the way round with total control and confidence. I had to be sure to keep my feet max inboard, so as not to ruin my spendy Daytona yuppie riding boots. :D
Traction of this tire was so good (not even one slip - ever!) that for me, control was enhanced to the point that the flex of the boards allowed me to gauge just when the engine guards, engine case or kickstand frame bolt were about to drag.

If you enjoy the twisties even half as much as I, you will have the need to lower your front axle and raise your rear axle to improve rake and trail for better handling. To accomplish this, many of us do run the 140/75R17 front with the Exedra Max 240/55R16 rear for this purpose. This tire will noticeably further improve your cornering ability!!!

Michelin Road 5 Rear Motorcycle Tire

OK maestro ToroViejo... Exedra Max in the back and Michelin Road 5 150/70 run backwards in the front. Now I'll be faster in the back pack and feel better when the pavement is wet. Getting a new set to take to RAA. Cost twice as much as the Shinkos. It better be guud
 
OK maestro ToroViejo... Exedra Max in the back and Michelin Road 5 150/70 run backwards in the front. Now I'll be faster in the back pack and feel better when the pavement is wet. Getting a new set to take to RAA. Cost twice as much as the Shinkos. It better be guud
Sinko are cheaper and not a bad tire but i only got 3500 miles out of the rear so savings is cut some by replacing faster. Kind of like the DS wearing the front out faster eating into your savings anyway. I am curious how these new bridgstones fare out. If all else fails and they don't make a 16 inch rim. The front might go well with the max. After im done with these if I m not smittened with them I'll give the michelins a try. Eitherway the turn in agility should change because the 18 inch rear bridgy is smaller the the 16 inch Exedra Max. Still centerline of the rear will be above the front so we shall see. Supposed to hit 80 today so after I get a new set of tires on my daughters car (that she don't know about) I might have time to change the rubber out. Who knows the itch to ride and not muck around is heavy :)
 
Okay...after reading this I have to ask....why run the tire backwards?

From what I understand from previous posts, the rear tire is designed to handle mostly acceleration stress. Front tires are designed to handle mainly deceleration stress. If the force vector is reversed it is advisable to reverse the tire that will have to take it.

My only issue is with the groves water dispersing function. Instead of directing water laterally the groves will direct water medially. Huuuuum?o_O Can you imagine, hitting a puddle and shazzaaam out goes the front tire :eek:
 
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